The Chief Whip's tirade at officers guarding Number 10 was poorly timed and
whilst not a sacking offence plays to Labour barbs that the Conservatives
are "out-of-touch", according to the Telegraph's senior political
correspondent Christopher Hope.

Last night, Mr Mitchell said he had already said sorry to the officers involved. However he denied using some of the words reported by The Sun.

The Telegraph's senior political correspondent, Christopher Hope, says that the tirade came at a bad time after the deaths of the two Pcs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes in Greater Manchester earlier this week, but added that while embarrassing for the Government it was unlikely result in his sacking.

However, the incident will play into the hands of Labour as they seek to portray the Government, especially the Conservatives, as out of touch.

"[It is] indicative really of the Labour assault on the Government as out-of-touch; a Latin-quoting minister yelling at excellent police officers."